The Peace Corps is a volunteer agency run by the U.S. Government. The mission of the Peace Corps includes three goals: providing technical assistance, helping people outside the United States to understand U.S. culture, and Americans to understand the cultures of other countries. Generally, the work is related to social and economic development. On March 1, 1961,President John F. Kennedy (on the right above) signed the Executive Order that officially started the Peace Corps. Kennedy then appointed his brother-in-law Sargent Shriver (above left) to be the program’s first director.

President Kennedy greets the first Peace Corps volunteers in August,1962.